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IBAO offers tips to protect homes from volatile winter weather


January 20, 2014   by Canadian Underwriter


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The Insurance Brokers Association of Ontario (IBAO) is advising Ontarians to ensure protective measures are in place to guard against property damage as temperatures are poised to plummet once again.

Some parts of Ontario are forecast to experience temperature lows of -30 °C overnight Monday and these volatile temperature changes bring with them many dangers to homes, notes a statement issued Monday by IBAO.

Tips to reduce risk from heavy snow build-up

Heavy snow build-up is the most common risk to a home, which can result in damage to the roof and surrounding areas. With drastic changes in weather, though, quick snow melt can also make the property susceptible to flooding.

IBAO offers the following tips to help protect property:

 •check the roof and outside parameters of the home a couple of times a week to monitor snow accumulation and contact a contractor for removal should build-up occur in certain areas;

•shovel snow away from basement windows and entryways to avoid water damage and water intrusion; and

•guard against ice damming – when snow from the roof begins to melt, but freezes near the roof’s edge before it can run off, usually caused by warm air leaking from the house into the attic – which prevents water from draining away and can cause water to back up under the shingles and into the home.

To prevent ice damming, measures include the following: ensuring the attic is adequately insulated; sealing any perforation in the ceiling from inside the home; ensuring soffit vents are not blocked by insulation; and keeping roof vents free of snow so cold air can circulate in your attic.

If a home is believed to be susceptible to ice damming, IBAO advises consulting an expert who can use diagnostic tools to identify problem areas, thereby providing an opportunity to prevent damage. “If an ice dam occurs, consult an expert and under no circumstances should you climb out on your roof to inspect or attempt to remove the ice dam yourself,” Randy Carrol, CEO of IBAO, says in the statement. “The next step is to take some photos and call your insurance broker and a local restoration contractor to inspect,” Carroll adds.

The City of Toronto issued an extreme cold weather alert Monday. The city does so when Environment Canada takes any of these actions: predicts a coming overnight temperature of -15 degrees Celsius or lower, without wind chill; issues a wind chill warning for outdoor activity for people in the Toronto area; and predicts extreme weather conditions such as a blizzard, ice storm or sudden drops in temperature.

Environment Canada reports the overnight temperature in Toronto is expected to be -21 Celsius, with wind chill of -29 Celsius.

Still, Toronto is not currently part of the wind chill warning issued by Environment Canada Monday morning. That warning applies to parts of northern Manitoba, northern and central Ontario and central Quebec, many areas of which are expected to experience a wind chill of -45 to -50 Celsius.


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